Written Answers Tuesday 24 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to improve opportunities for asylum seekers and their families in Scotland.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11560 on 17 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The Scottish Government has taken steps to improve opportunities for asylum seekers and their families in areas which are currently within our remit. For example, we announced in August 2007 that the children of asylum seekers would have the same access to higher and further education as Scottish children. The regulations came into force on 1 December 2007.

  The successful applications to the Race, Religion and Refugee Funding Stream 2008-11 will be announced shortly. This will include a number of projects aimed at improving opportunities for asylum seekers and their families such as increasing employability and facilitating access to services.

Climate Change

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Adapting our Ways: Managing Scotland’s Climate Risk consultation document will be published.

Stewart Stevenson: The consultation document Adapting our Ways: Managing Scotland’s Climate Risk will be published today. Copies are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechangeadaptation .

  It can also be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45925).

Courts

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that all means enquiry courts will again be fully operational.

Kenny MacAskill: All means enquiry courts under the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service are fully operational. We do not hold information on the operation of means enquiry courts held in district courts as these are the responsibility for the relevant local authority who administers the court.

Courts

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to jurors as "other unusual expenses" under the Jurors’ Allowance scheme in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: Details on payments to jurors for "other unusual expenses" under the Jurors’ Allowance Scheme are not held centrally by the Scottish Court Service.

Crime

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce will report its findings.

Kenny MacAskill: The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce aims to identify priorities for tackling serious organised crime in Scotland by making recommendations to Scottish ministers; sharing best practice; improving co-ordination between the law enforcement agencies, and making proposals for legislation and other measures to tackle serious organised crime.

  There have been a number of announcements of recommendations and priorities following taskforce discussions. For example, we have already announced our intention to bring forward proposals for offences of directing or being involved in organised crime; that we are reinvesting a proportion of proceeds of crime back into asset recovery work; that I have written to the Home Secretary with suggestions for strengthening the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and we have drawn attention to some recent successes by the agencies involved in tackling organised crime. Copies of the news releases are available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases.

  We will publish our proposals for legislative change when it is appropriate to do so.

Gaelic

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds currently receive Gaelic medium education.

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting Gaelic Medium Education among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is keen to see Gaelic medium education promoted throughout Scotland and for access to be for all families with an interest. The day-to-day promotion of Gaelic medium education is largely a matter for Scottish local authorities and for Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The pupils census results from September 2007 record that 33 children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds receive Gaelic medium education.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invest in health care on the Isle of Arran and replace the Arran War Memorial Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Health

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps NHS boards are taking to assist with the costs incurred by Scottish Motor Neurone Association care teams.

Shona Robison: Nine NHS boards have indicated that they are either providing 50% support for the services provided by Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association (SMNDA), or are in the process of developing an agreement.

  As I said in my letter to Chief Executives in July 2007, I would wish all NHS boards to formalise their working arrangements with voluntary organisations such as the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association which provide services and staff. This is in line with our policy on engaging with the third sector, as set out in Better Health, Better Care.

Health

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on finding a way in which NHS boards and their planning partners can work with organisations such as the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association to ensure that innovations introduced in the voluntary sector become part of mainstream provision.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association is represented on the group set up by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to develop clinical standards for Motor Neurone Disease. This will help ensure that the standards focus on the aspects of services of greatest importance to those for whom they are provided.

  We shall use our national review of the way in which NHSScotland supports third sector organisations to explore the issue of the relationship between services provided by NHS boards and by the voluntary sector.

Health

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what responses have been received to the Minister for Public Health’s letter of 27 July 2007 to NHS boards regarding the arrangements for formalising the relationship with the voluntary sector in respect of services for people with motor neurone disease.

Shona Robison: Responses were received from all the geographical Boards other than NHS Highland, as well as from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland. These are summarised in the answer to question S3W-14201 on 24 June 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Housing

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for affordable homes for rent in each year since 2003-04 in (a) Highland, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland, (d) Western Isles, (e) Moray and (f) Argyll and Bute and how much will be allocated in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, also expressed at constant prices, and how many homes (A) were and (B) will be approved for development in each such year.

Stewart Maxwell: The grant allocation at the beginning of each financial year is a single figure which includes provision for all relevant elements of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP). In addition to the provision of affordable housing for rent this includes an allocation for grant mechanisms providing low cost home ownership (LIFT) and Grants for the Physical and Social Environment. The allocation for affordable housing for rent is not recorded separately.

  The grant allocation for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme for each year since 2003-04 for the local authorities requested is in table 1 below. This shows the allocation in constant terms. Table 2 provides details of the total homes approved for development over the same period for all tenures.

  Planned expenditure for 2008-09 by local authority area is set out in the answer to question S3W-13606 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Over the period 2008-11 the government will be providing investment of over £1.5 billion for affordable housing across Scotland. £493 million in 2008-09, £566 million in 2009-10 and £591 million in 2010-11. Taking into account the local government settlement this is 19% more than planned by the previous administration for 2005-08. Over the period 2008-11 the government aims to deliver more than 21,500 new affordable homes nationally which is in line with levels of approvals achieved for 2005-08 despite increasing costs. These will be split 6,000 in 2008-09, 7,100 in 2009-10 and 8,400 in 2010-11.

  Details of the programme split by local authority for 2009-10 will be available nearer the time.

  Table 1, Investment

  

Local Authority
2003-04
Planned Total
2003-04
Planned Real Terms
2004-05
Planned Total
2004-05
Planned Real Terms
2005-06
Planned Total


Highland
11.220
12.868
12.037
13.435
25.615


Orkney
1.850
2.122
1.897
2.117
5.100


Shetland
0.905
1.038
0.948
1.058
2.255


Western Isles
2.380
2.730
2.826
3.154
4.030


Moray
1.755
2.013
1.667
1.861
3.600


Argyll and Bute
4.715
5.408
6.565
7.327
12.027



  

Local Authority
2005-06
Planned Real Terms
2006-07
Planned Total
2006-07
Planned Real Terms
2007-08
Planned Total
2007-08
Planned Real Terms


Highland
27.987
31.500
33.499
36.325
37.415


Orkney
5.572
5.500
5.849
6.000
6.180


Shetland
2.464
2.500
2.659
3.800
3.914


Western Isles
4.403
4.200
4.467
6.500
6.695


Moray
3.933
6.000
6.381
9.525
9.811


Argyll and Bute
13.141
15.550
16.537
17.675
18.205



  Table 2

  

Unit Approvals
2003-04
Total
2004-05
Total
2005-06
Total
2006-07
Total
2007-08
Total
2008-09
Planned


Local Authority


Highland
268
267
682
552
536
352


Orkney
72
42
56
120
94
83


Shetland
38
59
18
94
45
30


Western Isles
60
48
56
80
35
38


Moray
92
159
222
90
250
146


Argyll and Bute
89
307
198
217
183
128

Housing

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for affordable homes for rent in each year since 2003-04 in (a) Dumfries and Galloway, (b) Scottish Borders, (c) South Lanarkshire, (d) East Lothian and (e) South Ayrshire and how much will be allocated in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, also expressed in real terms.

Stewart Maxwell: The grant allocation at the beginning of each financial year is a single figure which includes provision for all relevant elements of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP). In addition to the provision of affordable housing for rent this includes an allocation for grant mechanisms providing low cost home ownership (LIFT) and grants for the physical and social environment. The allocation for affordable housing for rent is not recorded separately.

  The grant allocation for AHIP for each year since 2003-04 for the local authorities requested is in table 1 below. This also shows the allocation in real terms.

  Planned expenditure for 2008-09 by local authority area is set out in the answer to question S3W-13606 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Over the period 2008-11 the Scottish Government will be providing investment of over £1.5 billion for affordable housing across Scotland. £493 million in 2008-09, £566 million in 2009-10 and £591 million in 2010-11. Taking into account the local government settlement this is 19% more than planned by the previous administration for 2005-08. Over the period 2008-11 the Scottish Government aims to deliver more than 21,500 new affordable homes nationally which is in line with levels of approvals achieved for 2005-08 despite increasing costs. These will be split 6,000 in 2008-09, 7,100 in 2009-10 and 8,400 in 2010-11.

  Details of the programme split by local authority for 2009-10 will be available nearer the time.

  Table 1, Investment

  

Local Authority
2003-04
2003-04
2004-05
2004-05
2005-06


Planned Total
Planned Real Terms
Planned Total
Planned Real Terms
Planned Total


East Lothian
2.089
2.396
1.866
2.083
2.921


Scottish Borders
3.286
3.769
2.975
3.320
4.808


Dumfries and Galloway
5.308
6.088
4.741
5.291
6.967


South Ayrshire
3.958
4.539
3.535
3.945
5.183


South Lanarkshire
10.136
11.625
11.852
13.228
12.250



  

Local Authority
2005-06
2006-07
2006-07
2007-08
2007-08


Planned Real Terms
Planned Total
Planned Real Terms
Planned Total
Planned Real Terms


East Lothian
3.192
4.981
5.297
5.600
5.768


Scottish Borders
5.253
6.577
6.994
7.200
7.416


Dumfries and Galloway
7.612
11.267
11.982
12.767
13.150


South Ayrshire
5.663
6.183
6.575
6.674
6.874


South Lanarkshire
13.385
16.380
17.420
19.284
19.863

Justice

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11341 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, what progress has been made on preparing legislation to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 to ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11341 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, when it now expects to introduce legislation to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 to ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has introduced a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to overrule the House of Lords Judgment in Johnston v NEI International Combustion Ltd.  The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill is being published today, 24 June 2008, and, along with accompanying documents, is available at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsInProgress/index.htm.

  I am very pleased to be able to provide this confirmation that the Scottish Government has fulfilled its promise to bring forward legislation to ensure that the House of Lords Judgment does not have effect in Scotland.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the rate of prescribing anti-depressants reduced in 2007-08.

Shona Robison: The number of anti-depressants prescribed in 2007-08 increased by 7.7% between April 2007 and March 2008.

  This is an expected and direct consequence of changes to the Quality and Outcomes Framework under which general practitioners are remunerated, which encourages the identification and treatment of depression.

  The Scottish Government, working with NHS boards and other partners, is developing greater availability of psychological therapies and self-help approaches in line with the evidence base for effective treatment of depression.

  We believe that over time this will help achieve our target to reduce the annual rate of increase of defined daily dose per capita of anti-depressants to zero by 2009-10 and put in place the required support framework to achieve a 10% reduction in future years.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to review the service and contract provided by the telephone company operating the NHS24 telephone lines.

Shona Robison: This is an operational matter for NHS 24.

  NHS 24 is almost seven years into a 10 year contract with British Telecommunications (BT) for the delivery of the organisation’s telephony infrastructure and service. As part of the delivery of this service, NHS 24 and BT are in constant discussions about the ongoing operation and improvements which can be made to both the service provided by BT and the contract.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the user is of telephoning NHS24.

Shona Robison: NHS 24 operates a low rate 08454 number. This means that no matter which operator the caller uses when phoning from a landline, the caller only incurs a minimal cost. As every caller would have their own operator and subsequently a call package or contract tailored for their use, no single value for a call to NHS 24 can be given, although NHS 24 does cover the more substantial part of the cost.

  Similarly the cost of calls to NHS 24 from mobile phones are dependent on the call tariff levied by the caller’s specific network operator. NHS 24 have a policy of calling mobile phone users back if they have insufficient credit on their phones to cover the time period necessary for their call to NHS 24.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the monthly running costs are of NHS24.

Shona Robison: The net operating costs, or running costs, of NHS 24 are set out in their annual accounts each year and laid before the Parliament.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a system of recording the performance of NHS24.

Shona Robison: Every NHS board, including NHS 24, is subject to a process of public review and scrutiny as part of the annual review process. The forthcoming annual review of NHS 24, covering the 2007-08 period, will take place on Tuesday 12 August 2008.

  In addition, NHS 24 publishes a regular chief executive’s report on it’s website. This report reviews the performance of NHS 24 on a range of targets and indicators.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff are employed by NHS24 and, of those, how many have direct caller contact.

Shona Robison: As at June 2008, there are 1,418 staff delivering NHS 24 services in both frontline and support roles across Scotland. Of these, 1,192 staff (84.1% of total) work across a variety of skill sets, and have direct contact with patients.

  This includes 657 frontline clinical staff, such as clinical service managers, team leaders, nursing staff, pharmacy advisors, dental nurses and mental health advisors who receive and make calls directly to patients and their carers.

  In addition, 513 call handlers and senior call handlers and 22 health information advisors also engage with patients and their carers by telephone.

NHS Boards

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards provide maternity services.

Shona Robison: All 14 NHS boards within Scotland provide maternity services. These are:

  NHS Ayrshire and Arran

  NHS Borders

  NHS Dumfries and Galloway

  NHS Western Isles

  NHS Fife

  NHS Forth Valley

  NHS Grampian

  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

  NHS Highland

  NHS Lanarkshire

  NHS Lothian

  NHS Orkney

  NHS Shetland

  NHS Tayside.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many agency and bank staff were employed to cover (a) sickness absence, (b) holiday leave and (c) lack of capacity in NHS boards in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of agency and bank staff in each NHS board area due to (a) sickness absence (b) holiday leave and (c) lack of capacity in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the National Services Scotland, Information Services Division website holds information on costs and worked hours for agency and bank staff for 2006-07. Information for 2007-08 is due to be published shortly.

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/workforce-statistics.jsp?pContentID=1350&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.